JOINING THE OUTCRY IN THE SHADOW OF VIOLENCE

Just days after the September 11 attacks, American Atheists and others marched in front of the Embassy of Pakistan to demand freedom and exoneration for Dr. Younis Shaikh

By Conrad Goeringer

[Click here to visit our Free Dr. Shaikh site. Sign the petition and view photos! - webmaster.]

It wasn't a large crowd. What we lacked in size, though, was more than made up for by enthusiasm and determination - and possibly the impact we had.

The media were busy elsewhere it seemed, enthralled by the carnage at Ground Zero in New York where the World Trade Center towers had once stood or focusing on some "interfaith prayer service" and talking about how America was "under attack," or seeking solace in church (mosque, synagogue, or temple gratuitously included) or what Osama bin Laden was planning next.

We were in the nation's capital, though, responding to a call that had gone out from human rights groups across the world. Dr. Younis Shaikh, a Rationalist physician, was facing death after being convicted of violating Pakistan's repressive blasphemy statutes.

"Let The Protests Begin!" declared the International Humanist and Ethical Union Web-site, calling for a round of peaceful demonstrations. Already, there had been protests in Britain, Norway, and one was being planned for Bangladesh. Friends and supporters of Dr. Shaikh were everywhere.

Ours was scheduled for 22 September 2001. Dan Consolatore and Tim Mitchell, two Washington, DC-area Atheists, had set up a fledgling "freethought action" coalition, with the goal of organizing a demonstration on behalf of Shaikh. What better place than the nation's capital, and the sidewalk in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Massachusetts Avenue? American Atheists launched a Web-site (http://www.free-drshaikh.org), complete with information about the demonstration and an on-line petition demanding freedom and exoneration for Dr. Shaikh, and other victims of blasphemy legislation.

Then came September 11-9-11. Some of the groups which had originally supported the upcoming demonstration in Washington balked, expressing the opinion that the timing was all wrong. The nation was in mourning, in fear, in confusion.

Or, suggested American Atheists President Ellen Johnson, maybe the timing was better than ever.

On 18 September, American Atheists broadcast a nationwide press release stating that by freeing Dr. Shaikh, Pakistan would send the entire world community a clear signal that it was serious about fighting terrorism and dealing with the social and cultural conditions which give rise to religious extremism. Ron Barrier, Communications Director for American Atheists told reporters:

"We can't "drain the swamp" of repression in which terrorism thrives without helping to address the social causes of violence - such as poverty, lack of opportunity and personal rights. Building secular institutions - and that means helping to end blasphemy laws - may be more important in the long term than any military strikes the U.S. or allied nations choose to launch."

On 20 September, just two days before the Washington demonstration, American Atheists President Ellen Johnson met with Masood Kahn, a Foreign Affairs Officers at the Pakistan Embassy. This was a historic "first" for American Atheists; and Ms. Johnson told Mr. Khan that many Americans were concerned about the fate of Dr. Shaikh. She praised statements made earlier that day by Pakistan's head of state, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who pledged to combat international terrorism. During the one-hour long meeting at the Embassy, Johnson underscored the fact that by freeing Shaikh, Pakistan would send a clear, unambiguous signal that it was taking a stand against religious extremism and the ideological repression that terrorists seek.

The talks were "extremely cordial, extremely frank."

Mr. Khan said that there was "no way of knowing" how long Dr. Shaikh's case would take now that it was under appeal, but insisted that the Pakistani Rationalist would have a "fair trial."

Afterwards, Johnson said that progress had been made in bringing to the attention of Embassy officials the concern of Dr. Shaikh's American supporters. She added: "It's ironic that the head of an Atheist advocacy group is treated better by a foreign nation than by some American officials."

Mr. Kahn "had no problem in sitting down and talking with an Atheist."

"D-Day" arrived just forty-eight hours later. The Embassy was technically closed, but there was plenty of evidence of activity inside. Cars pulled up and discharged officials. Four members of the uniformed division of the U.S. Secret Service stood watch, and at 2 PM people slowly began populating the sidewalk in front of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A large red banner with words calling for an end to blasphemy laws was unrolled; individual members of other groups including the Washington Area Secular Humanists, Amnesty International and the Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists began showing up. Picket signs reading "Blasphemy Is A Victimless Crime!" and "Free Dr. Shaikh" started to appear.

From inside the embassy, there appeared the occasional peek from behind a drawn curtain.

Flanked by two of the Secret Service guards, Ellen Johnson climbed the steps in front of the Embassy, banged on the door, and was greeted by a small gaggle of solicitous officials. Were they confused? Surprised? A bit overwhelmed by all of this? When was the last time picket signs had appeared in this up-scale neighborhood? And were they shocked to see that people from halfway around the planet were concerned about the fate of Dr. Younis Shaikh?

Ms. Johnson presented them with several documents including a Statement of Concerns regarding the Shaikh case, and a hard copy of a petition with hundreds of names from the free-drshaikh.org web site. There were pledges that all of this would be conveyed to the government of Pakistan, and Gen. Musharraf. Even if that turns out to be a broken promise, it is clear that Pakistani officials know that Dr. Shaikh's case is one which cannot be ignored and has attracted international concerns.

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